Forbidden Fruit Ch 3: Guilty Pleasures
The rest of the ride was spent in a comfortable silence. Your hand held mine pinned against the inside of your thigh, my nails scratching lightly against the fabric of your pants. I snuggled against your side, softly singing with the radio as I tried hard to keep my thoughts silent.
The line had already been crossed; there was no undoing or going back in that respect. Yet that did not necessarily mean we should continue. My own strange set of morals kicked in, though I recognized it for what it truly was. I disliked myself for wanting it so badly, wanting you. Despised myself for being so selfish; we were playing a dangerous game, one that risked everything you held dear, while I risked nothing. What could I possibly offer in exchange for everything you stood to lose?
Then again, need I offer anything? You were aware of the risk, of the price you would have to pay if we got caught. You knew what was at stake, more fully than I could even understand, and yet you were willing to continue. I had made no special effort toward brining you to this decision. Of course, I had flirted and played, but I had stayed within certain boundaries. Anything that went beyond those limits had been initiated by you. I made sure of that… However much I wanted it, nothing could happen unless you had made that conscious decision to act. I would never tell you no, but neither would I ask.
The song changed, and I smiled. It was one of those moments when life is obliging enough to provide a soundtrack. The song was Follow Me, by Uncle Kracker.
“You don't know how you met me You don't know why You can't turn around and say goodbye All you know is when I'm with you, I make you free And swim through your veins like a fish in the sea
I'm singin’ Follow me everything is alright I'll be the one to tuck you in at night And if you Want to leave I can guarantee You won't find nobody else like me
I'm not worried ‘bout the ring you wear Cause as long as no one knows then nobody can care…”
The song spoke for me, the words I wanted to say, the things I needed for you to understand. I let my voice trail off, though the song continued as we pulled into the driveway. You waited until it was over; we sat watching each other until you killed the engine. We climbed out, walked up the driveway. You took the keys from me, unlocking and holding the door open, then locked it behind us.
You dropped your bag on the couch as I double checked that we were alone before joining you. Your smile was strained and I felt a twitch of panic as you took both of my hands into yours. “It’s not just a game anymore, you know.”
I nodded, twining my fingers through yours for a moment before I pulled my hands free. “You have to think about this… Everything that’s happened already, it is in the past… It doesn’t have to happen again, or even be spoken of. You don’t even have to think about it if you don’t want. The future… well that is up to you.” I stood, pacing back and forth in front of the couch as I struggled for the right words.
“You have a wife, a family, and I don’t want to hurt that. I don’t want you to lose that. Me, I have nothing to lose here, and I have nothing to offer you that can make up for any consequences to our actions. The only thing I can give you is this… Myself, my heart…” I hesitated, but decided not to hold back. “My love. You have the most to lose, so the decision to move forward -or to stop- is yours.”